Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Lee.
Hi Renee, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I got my start working for my parents at Lee’s Coin-Op Laundromat and Cleaners in the Westwood neighborhood where my siblings and I attend elementary, middle and high school. That’s where I first learned the essentials that carry you far in life and work: being on time, treating people with respect, showing up with a good attitude, and giving great customer service. Those early lessons built a strong work ethic in me. I still remember making five dollars a week and feeling on top of the world because it was my own money. Watching my parents on their entrepreneurial journey also taught me something priceless — you really do have the power to control the growth of your income.
From there, I stepped into retail at age 17. Within six months, I was promoted to head cashier. Not long after, as a sophomore at Lemoyne-Owen College, I landed an internship in the engineering department at MLGW, and I was eventually promoted to a lead. Every step was about growth and about saying “yes” to opportunities, even when I wasn’t sure where they’d lead.
A few years later, I shifted into the nonprofit world, starting at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis under the leadership of Gid Smith, who was instrumental in forming MIFA and my first mentor. I came in as an administrative assistant, but within a year, I had been promoted to office manager and later to administrative officer. Suddenly, I was overseeing administrative staff, building management, vendor and contract relationships, and even HR. Looking back, that leap happened because I was willing to go the extra mile, to take initiative, and to always keep learning. I devoured books on leadership, workplace culture, and team-building — I wanted to grow, and I was all in.
Of course, I made mistakes along the way, but every one of them became a lesson that shaped me into the leader I am today. And now, as CEO of ABR Firm, I’m grateful that I get to build alongside my family — my three siblings,: Karen, Matthew and Mark; my daughter Jasmine, and my niece Brianna. Together, we’re focused on helping others build their own capacity to perform and live at their highest level.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road. I actually appreciate the bumps I’ve had to go over and maneuver, because they taught me how to navigate differently. Over time, I learned to spot challenges a little earlier — those rough patches and potholes — and sometimes I had to take detours. For me, those detours meant realizing that as a leader, you can’t deal with everyone the same way. There’s always a way to build trust and get buy-in from your team, and a good leader surrounds themselves with intelligent, competent professionals who can help carry the vision forward.
Of course, there were times I doubted myself. In those moments, I had to pause and remind myself that I do have what it takes to do the job, and do it well. One of my greatest challenges came when I was promoted into a director-level role. Overnight, I was leading people who had once been my peers — while the former director, someone they were still loyal to, was still in the organization. They made it clear that their loyalty wasn’t with me.
That season taught me a lot about visionary leadership. When you’re stepping into a new role and the direction is shifting, you have to find a way to bring people along with you. I learned how to set clear expectations while still showing deep respect for each person. And what I found is that 99% of the time, when you lead with respect, clarity, and consistency, people will buy in. Eventually, I had a team that was not only willing but committed — committed to serving our clients so that they could reach their goals, while we reached ours together.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is all about helping leaders and their teams grow stronger, more aligned, and more effective. At ABR Firm, we’ve built a practice that combines leadership development, team coaching, and brand management — because I believe you can’t separate how you lead internally from how you show up externally. Strong leadership drives strong brands, and strong brands reinforce strong leadership.
I’ve taken what I’ve learned from my own experiences and turned it into practical frameworks that make leadership feel less overwhelming. Care. Connect. Coach.™ gives leaders and teams a clear path to strengthening relationships and communication, while The Build. The Bus. The Belief. The Buy-In.™ helps organizations align around a vision and move forward together. These tools give leaders something tangible to lean on as they navigate change and growth.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the ripple effect this work creates. I’ve seen leaders walk away with clarity and confidence they didn’t have before. I’ve seen teams that once struggled with buy-in turn into cohesive groups moving in the same direction.
In my professional career, I’ve learned and done the work of leadership coaching, building cohesive teams, and marketing — and I discovered I truly love those pieces of the work. That’s what inspired me to launch ABR Firm: to serve for-profit companies, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs with a blend of strategy, development, and brand management. What sets me apart is being able to connect the dots so that leadership and branding is practical, actionable, and transformational.
Looking ahead, my vision is to expand our impact even further — equipping more leaders, reaching more teams, and helping organizations of all sizes unlock their potential to lead boldly, serve well, and create lasting change.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I believe in leadership at every level. When a team sees you as part of the team rather than just the manager of the team, they start to develop a sense of ownership. They become truly invested in the results and performance of the whole organization. When people recognize how vital they are to the success of a company, they shift from a “just give me my check” mentality to an owner mentality.
I also believe recognition is powerful. I love being around brilliant people and creating spaces where creativity, ideation, and brainstorming can thrive. Everyone has something to offer, and when you make room for that, innovation naturally happens within teams.
Another value I hold close is being a learning leader. That’s why we offer The Learning Leader as one of our weekly virtual trainings. Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned one, there’s always room to grow, improve, and stretch yourself. That ties directly to our slogan: Reach For Better. To me, that’s how you chart the path toward what we call “good success” — not by cutting corners, but by doing the work and continually finding ways to do it better.
We love our community and so we are committed to offering two free personal and professional development trainings to professionals in the nonprofit sector. It is part of our give back and as a firm we also partner with a local nonprofit organization (C.O.P.E.) that supports the homeless population in Memphis.
Pricing:
- $250-$300 per person for virtual personal/professional trainings offered weekly
- $3K+ coaching packages
- $2k+branding packages
- $1K+ speaking engagements
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.abrfirmmemphis.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092477867109
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneelee-abrfirm/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Reach4BetterPlus
